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@einen gratta atnt @Hita WILLIAM H. DOANE AND JOHN RICHARDS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

Letters Patent No. 65,183, dated May 28, 1867; (mtedated February 16, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT 1N SHAFT-comune.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: l y

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. Donna and JOHN RICHARDS, of Cincinnati, in the county of Ha-milton, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and improved Coupling for Connecting Shafts; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact descriptionl of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, sheet B, is a side elevation.

Figure 2, sheet B, a longitudinal section.

Figure, 3, sheet B, an end elevation; and

Figure 4, sheet B, a cross-section on line C D.

Figures 1, 2, 3, and'4, on sheet A, show similar views of a diiferent modification of the same couplinff.

Similar letters of reference on the diiferent gures indicate corresponding parts.

The nature of this invention consists in constructing a shaft-coupling with an internal split sleeve with I conical exterior, constructed suiiciently thin and light in its cross-sectionvto be compressed concentrically to lit shafts of slightly varying diameters, and in so 'constructing the outer or compressing shells that the strain will fall equally on each end, so connecting them that they will represent'the continued strength of shafts through the coupled point. Couplings of this class have heretofore been constructed with the internal sleeve to constitute thei 1` strength, while the outer shells or compressing mechanism have no connection, and act independently on each end of the sleeve. This involves making'the central sleeve surrounding 'the shaft so heavy and stiff that it can only be closed as two semicircles, and consequently canfonly fit a shaft of fixed and specic diameter, and when closed upon a smaller shaft has only a line of contact.

In the coupling here illustrated, the shell is m'ade thin, with but little metal in its cross-section, by which means it can be compressed to it shafts of different diameters, and .adapt itself to irregularities incident to turning and inishing; while 4the outer or compression shells are so connected that they become the real connection between the shafts and represent their continued strength through the coupled point. They are also arranged in such a manner in connecting them that one will draw upon the other, making the compression equal on cach shaft. By this arrangement a coupling as a whole can be constructed with less metal and of smaller diameter, for the reason that the internal sleeve, if constructed heavy enough to form the strengh of the coupling, would increase the diameter of the outer shells proportionately without adding to its strength. By connecting and forming a whole of the outer shells any cross strain upon the coupling falls upon the outer ring at its extreme diameter, instead of a ceztral sleeve, making the coupling as strong as the common langeconnection.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our coupling, we will proceed to describe its mode of construction and manner of operation with the aid of the drawings, reference being had more particularly to sheet B, which is the most common form of construction.

The inner sleeve a is made of brass or other suitable material; being bored true', is split open on one side and grooved in one or more places, as shown at fig. 4, to make it yield with less strain. It is then turned'with a taper on both ends from the central to fit the outer or compressing shells bb. These shells 6 6 are bored to a true taper, as shown, and turned on the exterior to lit the connecting-nut C; one having a flange, as shown, the other with ascrew-thread working into the thread in themanner shown at iig. 2. By revolving 'this nut C, it turns loosely upon the flange at y, and draws the two -shells tb together, compressing the sleeve upon the shafts, holding them firmly. To apply the coupling, the ends of the shafts are brought together, the key e is inserted to prevent the shaft from turning independently, and to communicate the force from one to the other; the shells b b are then slipped on, and if necessary may -be driven up firmly before putting on the nut C. The ringnut is then put on and turned up firmly with a spa-'nner or wrench tting into the holes 0. By this means the shells b 6 can be drawn upitogether without revolving upon the sleeves a a, the taper in their interior be made so as to secure a great amount of pressure upon the sleeve a. The drawings on sheet A represent the same coupling with an extension, g, cast upon one of the shells, threadedoon its interior to receive a ring-nut, C, working against aange on the shell E; the operation being the same as in other coupling. We have also constructed the same coupling by turning the shell E lto t perfectly inside the extension g, and drawing them together with bolts without altering the nature or functions-of the coupling, so long as the outer shells are arranged to constitute the -strength by such connection.

Having hus 'described the nature of om` invention, We do not elaim the use of a. split sleeve in a shafteoupling, neither lo We claim the use ef conical shells; but what We do claim, and desre to secure by Letters Ps1-tent, is-

1. The rinb-nut C, for connecting the conical compressing-shells Zw b, in u shaft-coupling, in the manner and for the purposes specied. u K

2. We claim the seeve a, compressingI shells b, and ring-nui; C, of a shaft-coupling, combined and operated in'the manner and for the purpose set forth.

" W. H. DOMEj JOHN RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

W. C. HARD, W. S. KELLEY. 

